School board considers policy on how to ban cell phones

Bob Foos

The Webb City R-7 School District is in the process of complying with the new state law banning the use of cell phones during school days.

Members of the Board of Education discussed policy options presented by administrators during their regular meeting Tuesday.

They will need to approve a policy the next time they meet, on Aug. 12, for it to go into effect when school starts on Monday, Aug. 18.

Superintendent Brenten Byrd said information about the policy will be made available before school starts to students and parents. He suggested a question-answer format, among other methods of clarifying the matter.

From the board discussion, it’s fairly certain the district will now provide lock boxes for phones during school, as some districts have done.

For one, thing Byrd said the estimate to provide lock boxes is $80,000.

Instead, he said, “We’d rather teach responsibility” by letting students self-ban their use of devices, including headphones and watches, during the school day.

During the first week of school, Byrd said students will be reminded not to use their phones if they’re caught doing so. There will be a form of discipline after that.

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During a special meeting on June 26, the board approved the 2025-26 budget.

Conservatively, the budget predicts $21,577,335 in revenue and expenses totaling $22,302,158. That would leave the district with a ending balance of $7,984,177.

Byrd included a 2.4% salary increase in the budget, which was also approved by the board. That includes an additional $750 step on the teacher salary scale, which will raise the starting teacher salary to $46,000. Also, employees receiving an hourly wage will make a minimum of $15 per hour.

Board members continued their discussion of long-term facility needs during the special meeting.

And they hired Kristen Gavenda as a fourth grade teacher at Eugene Field Elementary.

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In other action during this week’s meeting, the board:

  • Set the tuition for out-of-district students at $10,330 (an increase of $130). “That’s about how much we spend on each student in our district,” Byrd said.
  • Set the annual leaving hearing for 6:15 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 12, where the board now meets, at the Student Services Center, 1000 N. Webb St.
  • Accepted the resignation of Jessica Thomas, a special education teacher at Heritage Preschool.
  • Approved contracts for:

    – Jessica Thomas, early childhood special education.
    – Danielle Hart-Zavala, high school Spanish.